What Culture Do You Admire Morst?

[TheShrike]

Me?
I admire Japan & the Japanese civilization pre 20th century.
It's all the rage with pimple-faced kids today, but I've always had a soft spot for the intricacies of the Japanese culture & it's history. Geisha girls, Cherry Blossoms, Tao, etc...

Who do you admire and why?

[Jonas]

American culture for it's arrogance, and self reliance.

[Shih]

Have to go with pre-christian Irish. A simplicity that well used has to be respected. That and anyone who's willing to charge into battle with nothing on but blue paint and spiky hair has to be respected.

May the wind always be at your back, the sun on your face, and the road beneath your feet. -Irish toast

[Taxman2A]

As far as Japan goes, I won't say I especially admire it, but I am thoroughly amused by present day Japan in all it's technocratic splendor. Its interesting how the Japanese tend to embrace the American idiology... even more than Americans do! It's almost like they are more American than Americans.
As the Shrike mentioned, this has recently started to balance with Japanese popular culture starting to catch on with younger teenagers and pre-teens.

Interesting, considering they were the only country to ever suffer a nuclear attack at our hands.

[TheShrike]

But that's why they admire us so.

They have a lot of pride. And after the bomb, they were literally like 'Why didn't we think of that??'. Then we were very kind to them during our occupation of Japan, so we again got respect for our benevolence.

[PreacherJ]

Good answers, all, but I have to say that I have to appreciate human culture as a whole, rather than any one civilization or nationality.

Humanity (in the best of times, now, not the more ugly points) has shown amazing tenacity for self-advancement. We're insane, sure, but it goes both ways. Look at what Columbus did. He very well thought he might be sailing off of the end of the world. The whole space exploration program is terrifying, to say the least. Look at us, and all we've done, and it's just incredibly hard for me to comprehend that we've developed such incredibly complex and abstract concepts, such as love, art, government, and music. We might be pretty primitive compared to some other possible race in the universe, but all we have, currently, is the rest of the animals, over which we have seemed to grow dominant. Now, if people could just realize we should be in it for the species, then we'd all be better off.

[TheShrike]

True.

But do you have any one race/culture/etc you have a particular soft spot for?

[PreacherJ]

At 4/29/03 02:09 AM, TheShrike wrote: True.

But do you have any one race/culture/etc you have a particular soft spot for?

If I can say "White Trash," then I pick that. Otherwise, I go with the Irish as well.

[TheShrike]

Same difference.
HAR HAR HAR

[Taxman2A]

At 4/29/03 01:40 AM, TheShrike wrote: But that's why they admire us so.

They have a lot of pride. And after the bomb, they were literally like 'Why didn't we think of that??'. Then we were very kind to them during our occupation of Japan, so we again got respect for our benevolence.

Yeah, I wasn't trying to say that the US has been nothing but mean to Japan but they still love us. Quite the opposite, considering the many ways the US has helped Japan since (including rebuilding the country right after it was destroyed). But still- they were victims of the most powerful blast in the history of mankind, and less than 60 years later our cultures are still close.
Old US war veterans still hold a disdain for the Japanese, but you don't seem to see a reciprocation on the part of the Japanese.

I always theorized that this was because of the attitudes of the Japanese Military, always very professional and "honorable". The same people who kill themselves before being taken prisoner, or who take their own life in the most painful ways imaginable for the sole point of honor. People that fully committed to warfighting do not hold contempt towards their aggressors, but rather respect. They hold the belief that if they are defeated in battle, it is because the opponent was better and more worthy of victory.
This is what I mean above when I refered to the Japanese Military as "professional". They were just that, instruments of war first, human beings second.

I have incredible respect for them insofar as being able to commit themselves so completely to a cause. Moreso than this though, I feel pity at their ability to completely attach themselves to such a destructive cause.

[Shih]

At 4/29/03 02:15 AM, TheShrike wrote: Same difference.
HAR HAR HAR

Oh do I sense some Irish bashing? Bring it Shrike. We whupped the english for three hundred years we'll do the same to you.

As far as American vets go a lot of that animosity is fading. Witness all the trips to Japan that have been in the news.

[bumcheekcity]

I'd have to say... The French and Germans, for their brilliant ability to stay out of Wars scince WW2.

[Taxman2A]

At 4/29/03 02:45 AM, bumcheekcity wrote: I'd have to say... The French and Germans, for their brilliant ability to stay out of Wars scince WW2.

French Imperialism in Vietnam

As for Germany- well yes, after starting
TWO world wars I think they had better take a few decades off.

[Shih]

At 4/29/03 02:45 AM, bumcheekcity wrote: I'd have to say... The French and Germans, for their brilliant ability to stay out of Wars scince WW2.

LOL
Damn that's a good point. Wish I'd thought of it.

[Dagodevas]

At 4/29/03 01:05 AM, TheShrike wrote: I admire Japan & the Japanese civilization pre 20th century.

I admire the Japanese culture as it is NOW! They're such freelance people! They don't always have a bug up their ass about something like we always do.

[ZenGaijin]

I seem to be quite fond of the Japanese culture also mainly because I'm a fan of Anime Technology and Self Defense.Not to cool on the living conditions there but hey i think i would get used to it.

[FUNKbrs]

why has noone said India? They invented the Kama Sutra!

[fourdaddy]

At 4/29/03 10:31 AM, FUNKbrs wrote: why has noone said India? They invented the Kama Sutra!

yeah, ancient india... ut they were probably more sanitary and literate 1000 years ago than they are today

[Jiperly]

the Asian culture on the whole- they have such great works of art and beutiful organision in their buildings alone, and there is so much honour and respect in their culture- something the west could learn from.

[bumcheekcity]

At 4/29/03 03:09 AM, Taxman2A wrote:

At 4/29/03 02:45 AM, bumcheekcity wrote: I'd have to say... The French and Germans, for their brilliant ability to stay out of Wars scince WW2.

French Imperialism in Vietnam

As for Germany- well yes, after starting
TWO world wars I think they had better take a few decades off.

Actually, they didnt start the First one AT ALL. The Russians, Austrians and Serbs were in a week before the Germans. And WW2 was run by a dictator that they didnt elect. So the Germans have had a rough time as well.

[TheShrike]

At 4/29/03 02:40 AM, Shih wrote: Oh do I sense some Irish bashing? Bring it Shrike. We whupped the english for three hundred years we'll do the same to you.

I would like to take a moment to point out that I am mostly Irish/Scottish. My last name starts with a Mc.

Nothing is better than poking fun at yourself.
=p

[PreacherJ]

*Gets Drunk, does a jig, gets into a fight, gets drunk, follows a rainbow to a pot of god, gets drunk, gets into a fight, breeds and then gets drunk again*

I love being me!

[Shih]

Irish drinking song

Oh they come over here
and they take all our land
they come over here
and take all of our kids

We drink and we puke
We drink and we fight
We drink and we die
and continue to drink

They come over here
and everyone leaves
They come over here
and cut off our heads

Oh we have no heads,
we have no heads

I love Dennis Leary

[Taxman2A]

At 4/29/03 01:11 PM, bumcheekcity wrote:

And WW2 was run by a dictator that they didnt elect. So the Germans have had a rough time as well.

Well... so was the second gulf war.. does that make the US exempt?

Just joking

[TheShrike]

I also admire British culture. When I say this, I also include the scots, welsh, irish, etc... Maybe I'm a bit biased there, but the history involved is remarkable and in many cases suprising, if you haven't read up on it.

[Shih]

Pretty much everyone got shafted during WW2, hell the Canadians lost thousands of soldiers and when was the last time you heard of that happening.

[mrpopenfresh]

Obviously the canadians, they got everything figured out. Seriously though, im canadaian so i guess that may come of a bit popmpous, but hey, i've been abroad and there's no place like home.

[Taxman2A]

A serious response to the above post though:

At 4/29/03 01:11 PM, bumcheekcity wrote:

Actually, they didnt start the First one AT ALL. The Russians, Austrians and Serbs were in a week before the Germans.

Who is at fault for the first world war is up for debate, and it certainly isn't fair to say they weren't at fault AT ALL. This website goes into detail about the debate.

And WW2 was run by a dictator that they didnt elect. So the Germans have had a rough time as well.

You make it sound like Hitler wasn't very well liked but he still had power- not true. While not everyone did like Hitler, he was elected, and with skillfull use of propaganda he gained widespread support. You can read (and be quizzed on)
hitler's support in Germany if you'd like :).

[Shih]

Taxman's right Hitler was democratically elected. His support was definitely warranted though, with the exception of the whole irredeemably evil thing, he was Germany's greatest leader.

[bumcheekcity]

At 4/29/03 04:30 PM, Taxman2A wrote: A serious response to the above post though:

At 4/29/03 01:11 PM, bumcheekcity wrote:

Actually, they didnt start the First one AT ALL. The Russians, Austrians and Serbs were in a week before the Germans.

Who is at fault for the first world war is up for debate, and it certainly isn't fair to say they weren't at fault AT ALL. This website goes into detail about the debate.

God do i know about WW1. Weve been doing it to death in History, preparing for our SATS (tests.)

It is incredibly unfair that we all blame Germany for both world wars.

And WW2 was run by a dictator that they didnt elect. So the Germans have had a rough time as well.

You make it sound like Hitler wasn't very well liked but he still had power- not true. While not everyone did like Hitler, he was elected, and with skillfull use of propaganda he gained widespread support. You can read (and be quizzed on)
hitler's support in Germany if you'd like :).

He wasnt elected. he gained power in the Reichtag when it burned down. But you're right. His very skillful use of Propoganda meaned he gained many supporters amoung the German people.